No Southern-fried Southern boy wants to be called a Yankee, but we share the characteristics of shrewdness and thrift. Thus, each month we include a money-saving tip. It’s OK if you call me “cheap.”
You can buy a non-slip “router pad” from any number of suppliers. It’s great stuff and will grip your work on one side and the table surface on the other side with amazing tenacity. Cheapsters like me, though, look for folks who have changed out their carpet with new underlayment (pad). Just keep your eyes open on garbage day and you can find a gold mine like the one pictured.
You can pay a fortune per square foot for a “router pad,” or you can have this for free. All it costs you is your pride! And, if it’s wintertime, just wear your ski mask and your neighbors will never know it’s you!
Take more than you need and store the excess in your attic or share it with your woodworking buddies. Cut a variety of sizes to accommodate jobs small to large. When rolled up, it stores in a small area.
I keep some “router pad,” used carpet underlayment, stashed in various places around the shop.
Some here, some there.
Even if I’m not routing, it makes a terrific scratch-free surface to work on.
Jim Randolph is a veterinarian in Long Beach, Mississippi. His earlier careers as lawn mower, dairy farmer, automobile mechanic, microwave communications electronics instructor and journeyman carpenter all influence his approach to woodworking. His favorite projects are furniture built for his wife, Brenda, and for their children and grandchildren. His and Brenda’s home, nicknamed Sticks-In-The-Mud, is built on pilings (sticks) near the wetlands (mud) on a bayou off Jourdan River. His shop is in the lower level of their home. Questions and comments on woodworking may be written below in the comments section. Questions about pet care should be directed to his blog on pet care, www.MyPetsDoctor.com. We regret that, because of high volume, not all inquiries can be answered personally.
That’s a terrific Idea, Thanks
Bob
Rug gripper material works well, too!